Audio power source with improved efficiency

ABSTRACT

An improved method of providing high burst power to audio amplifiers from limited power sources, using parallel power paths to increase system efficiency without need for a power path controller, thus utilizing a simplified circuit operation and maximizing average power available for both the amplifier and supporting circuitry.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of this application relates to the problem in theaudio field that average audio amplifier output power is a fraction ofpeak output power for typical program material such as speech or music.Known solutions to this problem suffer from significant limitations. Forexample, in one known system, all power passes through two converters tothe load, reducing system efficiency during times when the output loadis lower than the source power limit, and reducing the average poweravailable from a limited source.

A second limitation is that all of these circuits involve a highervoltage storage voltage. While that often is advantageous, sometimesstorage is more optimally done at lower voltages, such as is the casewith batteries, electric double layer capacitors, and other similarstorage devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to a method of powering electricalequipment such as an audio amplifiers and DC-DC converters. Thisapplication claims an improved method of providing high burst power toaudio amplifiers from limited power sources. The method employs parallelpower paths to increase system efficiency without need for a power pathcontroller, thus utilizing a simplified circuit operation and maximizingaverage power available for both the amplifier and supporting circuitry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the samemay be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way ofexample, to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of the power limiterblock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This application teaches an improved method of providing high burstpower to audio amplifiers from limited power sources. An audio amplifierincorporated in a power supply network is often connected to via acapacitive element to a voltage converter which is itself connected to astorage battery and to an alternator and which is voltage-regulated andcurrent-limited.

It is well known in the audio field that average audio amplifier outputpower is a fraction of peak output power for typical program materialsuch as speech or music. Operating the audio amplifier gives rise tocurrent being drawn from the network at the outlet of the voltageconverter, with this effect being transferred to the inlet of thevoltage converter. This may cause current peaks with characteristicswhich are incompatible with the quality of the amplifier sound.

There are a variety of known methods to attempt to get high peak outputfrom a limited power source or limited power converter. These knownsolutions to this problem suffer from significant limitations. Forexample, in one known system, all power passes through two converters tothe load, reducing system efficiency during times when the output loadis lower than the source power limit, and reducing the average poweravailable from a limited source.

Another limitation of these known methods is that these known circuitsinvolve a higher voltage storage voltage. While that often isadvantageous, sometimes storage is more optimally done at lowervoltages, such as is the case with batteries, electric double layercapacitors, and other similar storage devices.

The solution of this disclosure employs parallel power paths to increasesystem efficiency without need for a power path controller, thusutilizing a simplified circuit operation and maximizing average poweravailable for both the amplifier and supporting circuitry.

Power input 100 to the system may come from a variety of sources, wherethe source itself is limited, or where it is desirable to only drawlimited power from a larger source. Examples of limited sources arePower over Ethernet (PoE), USB, AC inverters and AC-DC converters, andbatteries with significant impedances where excessive current draw willprematurely trip low battery shutdown circuitry.

Input power is fed through a controlled power switch 110 into atransformer 140. The transformer 140 may be either isolated ornon-isolated. There are two outputs from the transformer 140, V1 and V2,145 and 146 respectively.

V1 is the main output which supplies power to the load. This load caninclude audio amplifiers, DC-DC converters, and digital and analogelectronics. V1 is regulated to a constant voltage by use of a referenceand error amplifier 180, opto-coupler 150, and pulse-width modulation(PWM) controller 230 to encode the amplitude of a signal right into apulse width or duration of another signal, usually a carrier signal, fortransmission.

A power limiter circuit 130 monitors input power to the transformer 140and feeds into the PWM controller 120 to limit input power to at orbelow a predetermined maximum level.

V2 is the storage output, and is fed to a storage bank 160. The storagebank 160 may be a capacitor, electric double layer capacitor, orbattery, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

V2 will be set at a lower voltage than V1, or a higher voltage than V1,or the same voltage as V1. The choice is made based upon the particularstorage technology and storage voltage desired.

V2 is fed into a voltage regulator 170, which is then fed into theoutput voltage V1. The set point of V2 is slightly lower than V1, sothat during normal operation, V1 supplies the load. During this time,the voltage regulator 170 is active but not supplying load current.

In an alternate embodiment, a single control circuit may be used tocontrol both V1 and the voltage regulator output, as will be seen by oneskilled in the art. In this way, a constant output voltage will bemaintained. V1 will supply the load first, and followed by the voltageregulator 170 if V1 is insufficient in power capability.

As will be known by those skilled in the art, the voltage regulator 170type will vary, depending upon the relationship of V2 to V1. If V2 isgreater than V1, the regulator 170 may be preferably a step-down (buck)converter, a linear regulator, or a buck-boost converter such as SEPIC,flyback, Zeta, or other similar topology.

If V2 is set to less than or equal to V1, a step-up (boost, SEPIC,flyback, Zeta) converter or charge pump may be employed to raise theoutput voltage as required. If V2 is equal to V1, a step-up (boost,SEPIC, flyback, Zeta) converter or charge pump may be employed toregulate the output voltage as required.

As will be known by those skilled in the art, while the embodiment ofFIG. 1 is shown as a single V1 and V2 system, the system and method mayhave multiple embodiments of the same concept, to allow for differenttypes of loads, and for alternatively bipolar (plus and minus output)supplies as are commonly used in audio amplifiers.

In operation, when supplying a load where input power is below the limitset point, all load power is provided through V1. This is a distinctionof the invention over prior art, where load power passes through astorage bank and an output regulator.

Because of this feature, overall converter efficiency is enhanced. Thatis, because V1 and V2 are parallel paths rather than in series, the moreefficient path is used when possible, which is V1 as shown in FIG. 1.

This is especially advantageous for limited sources, as it maximizes theaverage power available to the load. Additionally, during the time whereinput power is below the limit set point, power not used by the load(through V1) is used to charge the storage bank 160 via V2. Total inputpower never exceeds the desired limit. When the storage bank 160 isfully charged, V2 current drops to zero and V1 continues to supply theload.

Burst operation occurs when required output power exceeds that which canbe supplied by V1. V1 power limit is the input power set pointmultiplied by converter efficiency.

During burst operation, as output power exceeds what V1 can provide, V1voltage begins to decrease. When it decreases to the V2 voltageregulator set point, the regulator 170 takes over and provides outputpower. V1 stops supplying current and all available converter powertransfers to V2. V2 voltage regulator power is therefore supplied forshort periods by energy in the storage bank 160 in combination with theconverter via V2. This minimizes the amount of storage required.

Once burst power is no longer required, the system begins to return toits normal state. The voltage regulator 170 continues to supply loadpower while V2 charges the storage bank 160. As the storage bank 160charges, V1 increases in value. When V1 increases to the set point ofthe V2 voltage regulator, the voltage regulator 170 output currentreduces. V1 again supplies power to the load and returns to itsregulated set point.

Advantages of the invention are increased efficiency, maximized outputpower from a limited source, reduced power dissipation, and reducedenergy usage.

For power limited applications such as PoE (Power over Ethernet), thepower limiter 130 preferably engages quickly to void tripping the PSE(Power Sourcing Equipment) (not shown) current limit. Accordingly, itsbandwidth must be high and latency low. Simply measuring DC inputcurrent and voltage are insufficient, because input LC filters typicalto PoE applications slow the current sense time. This in turn limits themaximum bandwidth of the current loop and affects the stability of thepower limit circuit. When burst operation is required, the input currentcan overshoot before the power limiter 130 can engage, risking exceedingPSE current limit and causing system shut-down.

The power limiter block diagram is shown in FIG. 2. This embodiment isapplicable for single ended converters. However, adaptations for othertopologies such as half bridge, full bridge, resonant, and can beimplemented, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

A voltage reference 200 provides an initial set point for primarycurrent limit. Next, a voltage weighting block 210 takes the referencevoltage and adjusts it based on the input voltage to achieve a constantpower limit. That is, increased input voltage decreases referenceoutput, which in turn decreases the current limit set point. Theweighted reference is fed into the error amplifier 220.

Current from the power transformer 140 is switched by switch 147 andsensed in a current sense resistor 148. It may alternately be sensed bya current transformer or other current sense method (not shown).

This current sense signal 148 is fed into a differential amplifier 240,which is implemented with a low pass filter to create an average currentsignal from the instantaneous current in the current sense resistor.

This is a critical step to fast power limit response in that theinstantaneous input current is very quickly controlled by the PWMcontroller 230. Current response delay is low with this method and isnot affected by the input filter. As a result, the low pass filter ofthe differential amplifier 240 may be implemented at a frequency ofchoice to optimize response time and stability.

Output from the differential amplifier 240 is fed into the erroramplifier 220 and compared to the weighted reference. If average sensedcurrent exceeds the reference, the error amplifier 220 outputs a signalto the PWM controller 230 to reduce transformer current to maintainpower at the limit set point.

Stability compensation of the current loop is implemented with the lowpass filter in the differential amplifier 240, and with error amplifier220 compensation.

DC current sensing circuits (that is, anywhere in the input current pathbefore the converter stage itself) are limited by the cutoff frequencyof the input filter. In known systems, this can be as low as a few kHzto create an economical filter sufficient for EMC compatibility, and inthese known systems, faster response requires a higher frequencycut-off, reducing filtering effectiveness.

Advantageously, the system and method taught herein avoids limitation,since the bandwidth of the current loop is not dependent upon the inputfilter. Here, bandwidths of 30 kHz or higher are easily implemented. Theinput filter may therefore be designed independently of the current loopfor the most effective filtering at lowest cost.

The standard IEEE 802.3(at) for PoE+ currently specifies a maximum loadof 25.5 W for a powered device. In known systems, this general means25.5 W input with 90% converter efficiency makes 22.95 W available forloads. Digital and communications circuitry can easily draw 3 W in atypical application, leaving approximately 20 W available to the poweramplifier. A typical Class D audio amplifier have efficiency of 80% orless, meaning actual audio is 20 W×80%=16 W continuous output. SincePoE+ power sources have limited power, along with fast acting currentlimits, any peak power output above 16 W risks an overcurrent of thepower source, shutting down operation. Limiters on the amplifier canprevent this, but audio quality suffers due to the limitation. Thisseverely limits the practicality of prior art implementations,especially in a larger conference room.

In contrast, one embodiment of this disclosure utilizes an audio poweramplifier that operates from a limited Power over Ethernet source. Inthis embodiment, internal storage provides for higher peaks while theconverter limits power input, making it is possible to have peak audiooutput utilizing power greater than 16 W.

In this embodiment, power input ranging from 42.5 VDC to 57 VDC from anEthernet power source is received by a RJ-45 connector and passesthrough an Ethernet coupling transformer to provide DC outputs. Theoutput polarity varies, so it is passed through a pair of bridgerectifiers to provide a DC output of known polarity. Circuit topologyfor this embodiment is a single ended flyback converter, which providesisolation and good tracking of multiple output voltages.

The power switch employed is an N-channel MOSFET with 150 VDC rating tohandle input voltage, transformer flyback voltage, and provide marginfor reliability. A preferred operating frequency is 250 kHz, whichoffers reasonable size, cost, and efficiency. The power switch iscontrolled by PWM controller, which operates in peak current modecontrol with an overall loop response of approximately 2 kHz for themain converter loop. The power switch source current is sensed withresistor and fed into the PWM controller to detect peak primary current.

In this embodiment, converter outputs are 25.5V and 51V, although thiscan be adjusted as necessary to optimize audio performance. The 25.5Voutput provides power directly to an audio amplifier, as well as digitaland communications circuitry via post regulators. The 51V outputsupplies the storage, which is implemented here by 5×680 uF aluminumelectrolytic capacitors. The control loop is closed around the 25.5Voutput. Voltage tolerance is set tight, using a 0.5% reference and 0.1%divider resistors. The set point is 25.5 VDC, which allows for highestaudio output while not exceeding amplifier input voltage rating of 26VDC.

Error feedback is transmitted to the controller by a linear optocoupler.The controller can employ either optocoupler feedback or primary sideregulation, and an optocoupler is used here for maximum output precisionand best dynamic load response.

Input power limiter in operation utilizes the equation Input Power=InputVoltage×Input Current. Primary current is sensed with a resistor,however the power limiter uses average converter current instead of peakcurrent. Using peak primary current for power limiting would result inlarge inaccuracies due to varying duty cycle with input voltage andtransformer magnetizing current. Average input current is a more precisemethod to achieve an accurate power limit.

To determine average input current, resistor voltage is fed into aprecision high speed differential amplifier with excellent common moderejection ratio specifications. The differential feedback networkincludes frequency compensation to average the input current signal, andprovide for a fast, but stable power loop. Here, power limiter loopresponse is approximately 30 kHz, and input current peaks that couldcause the power source to current limit and shut the amplifier down aregreatly reduced and shortened.

Alternatively, average current sensing could be accomplished by sensingaverage return current or inductor current, however this causes a slowerresponse. The filter inductor and capacitors, in combination, introducea double pole in the loop response at approximately 4.3 kHz, which isless optimal speed to achieve a quick power limit with little or noinput current overshoot.

Input of the high-speed differential amplifier is fed into a furthererror amplifier, and compared against a reference provided by voltagereference shunt. The reference is weighted by the input voltage suchthat increased voltage in results in a lower reference output. Outputweighting reduces input current at higher input voltages, in keepingwith a constant power input. With proper component selection, inputpower can be made accurate to within +/−2% over the input voltage range.Available input power usage is maximized without exceeding power sourcelimits.

Output from error amplifier is fed through Q9 into the feedback pin ofPWM controller, completing the power loop.

On the output side of the converter, 51V is fed to a bank of storagecapacitors. The 51V output is further fed to a buck regulator.

The buck regulator output is set for 25.0 VDC. In this example, thisvoltage is below the main loop set point of 25.5 VDC, the buck regulatoris off during normal operation, and load power is provided by the 25.5Vflyback output.

When amplifier output requires power above the power limit of theflyback converter, dynamic, or “burst”, operation ensues. The firstresult is that, under power limit, the 25.5V output begins to fall fromits 25.5 VDC set point. When it drops to 25.0V, the buck regulatorcontroller engages to maintain voltage at a 25.0 V level. Buck regulatorloop response is set to 10 kHz or higher so that it can quickly respond.

Power is drawn from storage during burst operation, and storage voltagegradually drops during this time. At the same time, the convertersources as much power as possible to the 51V output to minimize voltagedrop. Input power stays constant at the limit during burst operation,maximizing audio power and reducing storage requirements.

Buck regulator is chosen to maximize duty cycle operation and minimizesvoltage dropout through the buck regulator, further maximizing audiooutput capability and reducing storage requirements.

Once dynamic amplifier power reduces to below the power limit, theflyback remains at full power until the 51V storage output is rechargedto normal levels and the 25.5V output rises above 25.0 VDC. At thispoint, the buck regulator turns off and normal operation is restored.

As designed and described, transition in and out of burst operation issmooth and requires no separate power path controller. System cost anddesign complexity are thus minimized.

Accordingly, the preferred embodiment realizes an increase in dynamicpower of greater than an order of magnitude over prior art. Much largerrooms and venues are serviced with the invention. Listening testsconfirm a clear superiority in side-by-side comparisons. Stated in termsof dynamic power rating, a full bandwidth amplifier of this embodimenthas been measured at 50 W×4 for a four-channel implementation, whichoffers a total of 200 W of dynamic audio power before the amplifierclips or is required to limit. Accordingly, the preferred embodimentrealizes an increase in dynamic power of greater than an order ofmagnitude over known systems. It will be appreciated that the system isnot restricted to the particular embodiment that has been described, andthat variations may be made therein without departing from the scope ofthe system as defined in the appended claims, as interpreted inaccordance with principles of prevailing law, including the doctrine ofequivalents or any other principle that enlarges the enforceable scopeof a claim beyond its literal scope. Unless the context indicatesotherwise, a reference in a claim to the number of instances of anelement, be it a reference to one instance or more than one instance,requires at least the stated number of instances of the element but isnot intended to exclude from the scope of the claim a structure ormethod having more instances of that element than stated.

1. Power delivery circuitry to deliver power to an audio device, thepower delivery circuitry comprising: a limited power input connected tothe audio device; a power transformer, a power storage device, and avoltage regulator connected between the limited power input and theaudio device; a power limiter connected between the limited power inputand the transformer to monitor input power to the transformer based onan input of a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller connected to thepower limiter; and an error amplifier connected to the power transformerand between the audio device and the PWM controller, wherein the erroramplifier is configured to output, based on a detected current from thepower transformer, a signal to the PWM controller to cause the powerstorage device to provide power to the audio device.
 2. The powerdelivery circuitry of claim 1, where the limited power input is selectedfrom a group consisting of a power over Ethernet (PoE), USB, an ACinverter, a AC-DC converter, and a battery with an impedance above acertain value.
 3. The power delivery circuitry of claim 1, wherein theerror amplifier is configured to output, based on the detected currentfrom the power transformer, a signal to the PWM controller to cause thepower transformer to reduce output current.
 4. The power deliverycircuitry of claim 1, wherein the PWM controller is connected betweenthe power limiter and the audio source via an electrical path.
 5. Thepower delivery circuitry of claim 1, of claim 4, wherein the electricalpath passes through the storage device and the voltage regulator.
 6. Amethod of dynamically controlling power in an audio system, the systemcomprising the steps of: monitoring, via a power limiter connectedbetween a power input and a power transformer, a power load requirementof an amplifier supplied by the power transformer; communicating, via acurrent sensor, a current output of the transformer to an erroramplifier; receiving, via a PWM controller a signal from the erroramplifier; reducing, in response a control signal from a pulse widthmodulation (PWN) controller, the current output of the transformer; andcausing, in response to the control signal from the PWN controller, apower storage device to provide power to the amplifier.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, comprising comparing the power load requirement to a systemreference value.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the power storagedevice is connected between the transformer and the amplifier.
 9. Apower management system for an audio system, comprising: at least afirst and a second DC outputs, wherein the first DC output providespower to an audio amplifier and wherein the second output provides powerto a storage unit and a buck regulator; a power switch, configured tomanage input voltage and transformer flyback voltage to a flybackconverter, and is controlled by a pulse width modulation (PWM)controller; an error amplifier; a differential amplifier configured tocommunicate with the error amplifier to compare a reference voltageprovided by a voltage reference shunt, where an output from the erroramplifier is fed to the PWM controller; and when an amplifier outputrequirement is above a power limit of the flyback converter, the powerfrom the first DC output begins to fall and causes the buck regulatorcontroller to engage the buck regulator to maintain voltage by powerbeing drawn from the storage unit and pulled to the second DC output.10. The power management system of claim 9, comprising a connector thatreceives power from an Ethernet power source.
 11. The power managementsystem of claim 9, wherein the first DC output provides power to anaudio amplifier and to additional circuitry.
 12. The power managementsystem of claim 9, wherein a peak primary current is detected from thePWM controller.
 13. The power management system of claim 9, comprisingan optocoupler configured to receive error feedback.
 14. The powermanagement system of claim 13, wherein the optocoupler is configuredoptimize dynamic load response.